Dairy sector seeks withdrawal of taxes

PDA Chairman Zulfiqar Khalid Shaikh elaborates the consequences of proposed sales tax on fat filled milk products

Pakistan Dairy Association (PDA) approached the prime minister and adviser to the prime minister on finance through a letter to request the withdrawal of 10% sales taxes on Fat Filled Milk products classified under Eighth Schedule of the Sales Tax Act, 1990.

Major products categorised under fat-filled milk category in Pakistan are tea whiteners and fortified milk-based formulae for growing children to address malnutrition.

“This policy will not only damage the dairy industry but will also force consumers to go back to adulterated and unhygienic loose milk due to increase in the price of tea whiteners and other fat filled milk products of basic nutrition for growing children,” PDA Chairman Zulfiqar Khalid Shaikh said, while elaborating the consequences of proposed sales tax on fat filled milk products. He said tea whitener was predominantly used by a poorer segment of the society as an alternative to unhygienic and adulterated loose milk available in the market.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2019.